I am actually glad that people understood the joke. It was a small mistake I made. Freesia come as bulbs, not as seeds so it was suppose to be a 'she wants to help me plant the seeds' joke. But it still kinda worked xD
There is a LOT OF FORESHADOWING in this chapter. So enjoy it :P
I also have a current Idea for a project for a Kageyama Tamiko Hoodie...I wonder how far I will go with this.
LilweenGalatrass: My wedding bells rang a year ago and I still dont have a baby. I want to make this story as realistic as possible since haikyuu is so authentic as well. And that kind of development takes time. But you can look foreward to a lot a fluff. The fantasy AU is sparking because of the offical Haikyuu Quest game that is suppose to come out on the nintendo 3DS? so yeah :P but don't worry, there will be babies. I have already planned the ending of this fic anyway :)
iciclefangAJ: That is good :) Once I post it I shall link it up. It will be called 'A strong woman' see what I did there?
ShioriShuu: Yay I am glad you like it!
PandaHee: He may be a little OCC since it has to fit with the concept but otherwise it will be as exciting! YOU WILL GET MORE! Since they are a couple now they will try out a lot together.
Chapter 30 - A New Year
The year grew to its end and Ushijima came by to visit every day. The first time he came it was really early in the morning. He had decided to change his route for the morning jog to the Kageyama neighbourhood so that he could go and see her. When he rang the doorbell, it was 6 in the morning. It took a while until someone opened the door and in the end it was Tamiko, in her pyjamas and still half asleep. She was more than surprised to see him but when she saw his tracksuit it didn't surprise her anymore.
"Come in," she yawned.
She offered him breakfast that they ate together. When Tobio came down for breakfast he didn't notice Ushijima at first. When he did, he got a fright. In the end the three enjoyed breakfast together when Ushijima was ready to leave and continue his jog. He was about to open the door when he was stopped.
"Wait for me, Ushijima-san!" Tobio called and slipped into his running gear.
Ushijima did wait for him patiently. Both could hear Tobio run around upstairs like a crazy chicken. When he came down the stairs he was wearing his winter running gear, leggings and thermo top. Tamiko watched curiously as her brother put on his shoes and waved to her.
"Have fun you two." Tamiko said when they left.
Tobio closed the door, did a few stretched and walked next to Ushijima. The grand ace didn't say a word when he started to run, Tobio just followed. For a while, they jogged in silence through the neighbourhood but Ushijima came to word first.
"When did she tell you?" he asked.
Tobio glanced over to him but Ushijima's eyes were focused on the road.
"When she picked me up." Tobio answered.
Ushijima didn't say anything and the two jogged on with a fast pace. The grand ace felt a little more at ease with the young setter. There was no hostility that he noticed and Tobio even wanted to jog with him. They didn't race or compete against each other. Their urge to train had become mutual and Tobio followed him back to the academy. He got a little nervous when he saw the familiar red hair.
"What's this, Wakatoshi-kun? Isn't that Karasuno's #9?" Tendou mustered Tobio but the young setter stayed quiet.
The other third years were a little sceptical when Ushijima told them that Tobio was just there to watch but over time they seemed to welcome him. Semi was eager to see the full extend of what Tamiko's little brother could do and even Shibaru was low key excited to have Oikawa's junior around, although his constant tongue clicking indicated otherwise. Tobio took the advantage to learn what he could by watching Ushijima, Semi and Shibaru train. Semi's serves also interested him. This routine continued for a couple of days. Ushijima would pause his morning jog to eat breakfast with the Kageyama siblings and Tobio would join him for the rest of the jog and watch them train in the morning. The afternoon he spent training at Karasuno. The biggest highlight came after five days when Ushijima let him toss him the ball. The grand ace was bewildered by the accuracy of Tobio's tosses but he welcomed it. This only boosted Tobio's confidence in himself and Semi sent the update to Tamiko.
From: Semi
To: Tamiko
Wakatoshi is letting your bro toss to him. You should see his face. He looks like a puppy who has just received a treat!
Tamiko smiled at the message and then glanced at the calendar in the kitchen. 30th of December. Tomorrow was the last day of the year and then there were only 5 days left until she would spend a week alone with Ushijima. Alone with Ushijima, for a week, sharing a hotel room. Her head nearly exploded at the thought. But she knew him. Nothing will happen and that gave her a little peace of mind. Since both had already planned out that week already she focused on more recent events; New Years. Her and Ushijima had decided to go to the shrine together tomorrow night, to welcome the new year together. A lot of scenarios had gone through her mind how that night would play out but she decided not to fret on it. Instead she prepared the traditional Kageyama day-before-new-year's dinner.
"Thank you for the food." Tobio and Tamiko said in unison.
Soba noodles were a must for them before the end of the old year. It wasn't a completed year without Tamiko's soba noodles. That's just how it had been over the last few years. A tradition that Tobio loved. And he sort of missed Ushijima's presence at the dinner table. And he wouldn't be there for breakfast tomorrow. Tobio frowned. He had already grown used to seeing the grand ace every day. If Hinata and the others knew about this, they would go crazy. Hinata would probably want to come here every day to see Ushijima, Tanaka and Nishinoya would call him a traitor and Tsukishima; he didn't even want to imagine. No, he would keep this to himself. This would be his secret. Nobody would steal Ushijima from him and his sister.
"You are going to the shrine tomorrow?" Tobio asked after a while.
"Yeah, with Wakatoshi." she answered.
Tobio watched his sister for a moment. There was a hint of pink on her cheeks. Since their relationship had started she had been calling him by his given name. Even Tobio started to wonder if he could ever call him that way. Wakatoshi-san. Yeah, he could try that.
"Well, have fun." he said after a while. "I'm staying here."
Tamiko smiled at her brother while he continued to eat. She was really looking forward to tomorrow. This would be their second date. She blushed again. How exciting. That night she had trouble sleeping and was messaging Izumi, asking her for advice. Scenarios like a first kiss, cuddling and holding hands were discussed although Tamiko was starting to melt away from the embarrassment she was feeling. But Izumi tried to encourage her as best as she could. You are both new to this so take it slow, she told her. With that, she felt reassured. Ushijima received similar advice the following morning. Tendou and Ohira were pestering him with romantic ideas but in the end Soekawa also told him to take it slow. Ohira and Yamagata started making bets of what would happen on that date what Ushijima chose to ignore. He was just glad that the headmaster of the academy would leave the gate open all night so that the students could go to the shrine at night. The snow was falling lightly on that day and Tamiko and Tobio spend the day playing games and watching movies. When the late evening came she left the house, while the snow was still falling lightly. Tamiko was running. She had wasted precious minutes trying to find her hat. I hate running, she grumbled to herself. When she reached the meeting point, Ushijima was already standing there, waiting. He was wearing the scarf she had knitted for him.
"Sorry, I'm late." Tamiko apologised.
"It's not a problem." Ushijima said and waited for Tamiko to catch her breath.
It took a while. Her throat and lungs were burning from the cold air and she had to cough a couple of times. Why did she run? She hated running. The excitement of spending this day with Ushijima had been pushing her. She coughed again.
"Are you alright?" he asked, growing a little worried.
"Yeah, I'm good." she huffed, waving off his concern.
"You have terrible stamina." he noted.
"I know, you don't have to remind me." she groaned.
Ushijima couldn't help but smile a little. After a few more minutes her breath finally calmed and both started walking towards the shrine. Despite the time, there were many people around. A lot of couples walked past them as they made their way up the steps. There were so many, the women giggling, clinging onto their partner, stealing a few kisses. It made her nervous, remembering all the ideas that Izumi had. She gazed up at Ushijima's back as he walk in front of her, clearing her a way through the crowd. After a while Tamiko stopped. When Ushijima noticed that she had stopped, he turned to her.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
Around them people walked past them, not giving them much attention. She awkwardly grabbed a handful of fabric from her coat and blushed heavily.
"You know, we are a couple, right?" she muttered.
"Yeah." he answered bluntly.
Tamiko grew bright red and looked down at the ground.
"Well, would it…is it…is it okay with you…if we hold hands?" she mumbled shyly.
Ushijima blinked a few times, looked down at her, looked at a passing couple, then looked back at her. That's all she wanted? Hold hands? But now that he was thinking about it, he grew a little bashful and he looked at his own hand, trying to think of what to do. Her eyes snapped up to him when she saw his hand. Sheepishly she reached for it. When their skin touched they flinched a little, feeling something similar to an electric discharge between them. At the second touch, they held each other loosely. So warm. His hands were so big and as they continued to walk around the snowy scenery, he tightened his grip a little. She only saw a little glimpse of his red cheeks but since the cold was making everyone's cheeks burn, he didn't stand out. And neither did she as she buried her face in her scarf.
"Let's get something warm to drink." he suggested.
"Sure." she smiled. "I'll pay."
They walked a little more through the crowd together, hand in hand. It was strange how save she felt just by holding his hand. He gently guided her through the crowd since he could overlook everything. They stop at a stand to get a warm drink and then look for a place by the shrine to watch the fireworks. In the last minute of the year, all was quiet. Everyone looked up to the sky, watching the snowflakes fall. The digital clock then started the countdown, which was counted by the crowd.
3
2
1
Happy new year!
People cheered, friends hugged, couples kissed. Tamiko and Ushijima just stood there, smiling to themselves, squeezing each others hands. Their cheeks were flushed from the cold, embarrassment and happiness. Tamiko let go of his hand and snaked her arm around his waist. He rested his arm on her shoulder and then they stood there, watching the lights and fireworks. When the euphoria of the moment subsided and the fireworks died down, the crowd began to move again. A long queue formed at the shrine. The pair also decided to try pull a fortune for the year. Tamiko was optimistic. She opened the paper and began to read.
小凶
Tamiko cringed. Small curse. She sighed. Of course. This relationship would probably be a tough ride. She peeked over to Ushijima who was quietly reading his own fortune sheet. Then returned her attention back to her own.
転居 (Moving or changing residence): Prepare yourself for a great change.
待人 (A person being waited for): A reunion will be of great importance.
失せ物 (Lost article): You will find something you never thought you had lost.
She had no clue what to make of this. A big reunion? Was she going to move this year? And what has she lost? She grumbled to herself for a moment when Ushijima looked over her shoulder.
"Looks like I have a better fortune than you." he said.
He really needs to work on his choice of words, she sighed. But she turned to him with interest in her eyes.
"What did you get?" she asked.
"Great blessing. And that I will meet the person I have been missing." he told her, showing her his sheet.
There was nothing more. It looked like he was going to be lucky this year.
"Any idea who that person might be?" she asked him.
"I believe it will be my father. I haven't seen him for years and I do miss him." he explained.
Tamiko gazed at him as he looked at his fortune sheet, deep in thought. She remembered the photo of his dad in his room. It didn't surprise her that he hadn't seen him in years. He did live in America and that was far away. From what she could tell, Ushijima was now dwindling in memories. He even looked a little sad. And that was something she didn't want to see.
"I'm gonna tie mine up." Tamiko decided. "And you?"
"I will as well." he said.
And both walked up to the wires where hundreds of O-mikuji were already tied. Like leaves they rustled in the subtle wind intensifying blessings and keeping bad luck at bay. They found a free spot and tied their fortune to the wire, leaving them to the gods, if there were any. Didn't Tamiko's last fortune mention something with relationships and love? She didn't remember but when she took his hand again, she prayed to herself, hoping that this happiness will never end.
